Headteacher’s Message emphasised just that when he was the guest speaker at our recent GCSE awards’ evening. He quite rightly said that success is “90% perspiration and 10% inspiration” a message that resonates fully with our own thinking here at The Park School. Our current students are applying themselves fully to school life and there have already been many opportunities to recognise their success. My weekly meeting with our Stars of the Week is a highlight that I always look forward to. These students are a credit to themselves and are wonderful ambassadors for our school. Our new Year 11 prefects and student leadership team are carrying out their duties with great professionalism and pride. They represented the school wonderfully on the occasion of our annual Remembrance Assembly and took great pleasure in chatting to some of the ‘old boys and girls’ of the two predecessor schools. The event was incredibly moving, as always, and a poignant way for us to show our respect. As we approach the end of an extremely As a school we are always striving to move forward and improve. We consult our staff and our students regularly busy term, it is fitting that we reflect on our to seek their views and I am always keen to hear about any progress and achievements so far this year suggestions that they have. No school can ever say that it and appreciate how much there has been has nothing left to work on and good schools are those that are outward facing and consultative. When I attend external to recognise and celebrate. events or conferences, it is not only refreshing to bring back We are very ambitious for our school and our students and new ideas but also pleasing to recognise that much of the were delighted that the combined achievements of the class good practice being shared is already in place in our school. of 2016 resulted in the school recording its best ever GCSE We are confident that 2017 will be another good year for outcomes. We are very proud of our students’ achievements The and we will be doing and it was wonderful to celebrate with them back in August. everything that we can to bring about continued success. We all know that achieving success in any sphere of life is the result of a great deal of hard work and determination I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. and these qualities were evident in abundance last year. Mark Palios, Executive Chairman of Tranmere Rovers FC, Helen Johnson, Headteacher

Senior Prefects chosen to represent school Eight of our Year 11 students have been chosen to fulfil prestigious roles that make them the senior ambassadors of The Birkenhead Park School. The students will represent the school in a number of ways during events and assemblies and will continue to work hard as outstanding ambassadors. Headteacher, Helen Johnson said: “It is always a delightful moment to meet our new Senior Prefect team and present them with their prefect badges.”

The Birkenhead Park School, Park Road South, Birkenhead, Wirral CH43 4UY Students benefit from BePART Programme launched at The Birkenhead Park School Students at The Birkenhead Park School programme. I am confident that the programme will lead to are going to benefit from a unique life-skills improving the lives of our students both in their academic work and outside of school.” programme focussing on their wellbeing Liverpool John Moores University is also involved in the in school. scheme, assisting in research and evaluation of the The ground-breaking BePART (Be Positive, Ambitious, impact of ‘BePART’. Resilient, Thoughtful) programme has been designed by Professor and psychologist, Dave Putwain, from the John Birkenhead Sixth Form College and is being delivered to Moores Faculty of Education said: “I am delighted to be Year 7 & Year 8 students at The Birkenhead Park School, involved with the BePART programme. Birkenhead Sixth before being rolled out across the remaining year groups. Form College has devised an innovative and forward The six-week scheme includes sessions on challenging thinking approach, designed to improve the physical and negative thoughts, the importance of sleep and diet emotional wellbeing of students. My role will be to help the and using gratitude to build resilience. College use data to analyse the impact of the programme Headteacher Helen Johnson said: “I am extremely proud and how it can be improved in the future.” that through our sponsor, Wirral Academy Trust, and our strong links with Birkenhead Sixth Form College, we are going to be able to offer our students this unique

Macmillan coffee morning Three students from The Birkenhead Park School helped raise over £700 for charity as they helped organise a Macmillan coffee morning at Birkenhead Karate Club.

With a fantastic turnout of over 120 people the cake and coffee morning included raffles, games and prizes donated by local businesses and the community. Charlie from Year 9 said: “We had a great day and raised so much money, the cakes were amazing!’”

Tel: 0151 652 1574 | Email: [email protected] | www.birkenheadparkschool.com GCSE Presentation Evening - a night of celebration It was a fond farewell at the GCSE The grand finale was an amusing but emotional look back Presentation Evening as last summer’s at pictures and memories from the students’ younger years record-breaking students returned to - some fairly embarrassing but all good humoured. the Birkenhead Park School for a We wish each and every one of our Class of 2016 every night of celebration. success in their future endeavours, and we are proud of everything that they have achieved, which we are sure is Having gone on to pastures new after their time at the School, a huge number of familiar faces returned to the just the start of their very happy and successful futures. Assembly Hall for awards, speeches and a look back at some special memories. The Tranmere Rovers Executive Chairman, took the time to visit and was our special guest for the night, addressing the audience in a poignant speech about cherishing the past but concentrating on the future. With so many now former students having gone on to further study, apprenticeships and employment, Mr Palios’s talk was an inspirational reminder that our Class of 2016 have just started out on their own exciting journeys through life, and that mirroring the hard work that they put into their studies at GCSE was a model on which to base their ethics for the rest of their careers. Mr Palios did also remind the year group that secured the school’s best ever GCSE results in the summer to have fun too, and appreciate every moment: it’s important to work hard but also enjoy everything that life throws at them. Subject awards were presented to students who performed exceptionally while at the school, whether that was through academic ability or their determination and desire to achieve, with teachers from each faculty giving a short but touching reflection on why each student was receiving their accolade. The subject awards were followed by five special awards, celebrating students who had gone above and beyond the call of duty during their time at school.

The Birkenhead Park School, Park Road South, Birkenhead, Wirral CH43 4UY Students take Remembering part in national former students ‘Restart a who gave their Heart Day’ lives in war North West Ambulance Service, St John Governors, students and staff at Ambulance and British Red Cross visited the School gathered to reflect The Birkenhead Park School on Tuesday upon the horrors of conflict and 18th October to teach 80 students vital think about the global suffering life-saving skills as part of the country’s caused by war as the country paid biggest every CPR training event, its respects on Remembrance Day. ‘Restart a Heart Day’. After the assembly, invited guests joined Headteacher Helen Three one-hour sessions were delivered throughout the Johnson and Senior Prefects in a private ceremony at the day to students from Year 7, 8 and 9 who were taught honours board in the school reception area. The boards how to deal with an unconscious patient and practised acknowledge and remember former Park High School and on Resusci Anne. High School students who gave their lives in World War II. Headteacher Helen Johnson said: “We were really keen to be involved in such a fantastic and important Mrs Johnson said: “This event is always very special and campaign aimed at increasing the survival rates from it is so important to us all that we remember those former out of hospital cardiac arrests. I have seen first-hand students who gave their lives in war. I know the event how teaching our students first aid skills can save lives means a lot, particularly to our ‘old boys and girls’, and after one of our students assisted a member of the is a perfect time for them to get together and talk about public who had collapsed in the street just days after their friends and memories of their time at the receiving training from St John Ambulance earlier this predecessor schools.” year. It was great to see so many of our students eager Chair of Rock Ferry Old Boys Association, George Benson, to get involved in this event and although we hope said: “This service means so much to us all as it remembers they will never have to put these skills into action, the actual students from here that gave their lives in war. It it is reassuring that they will know what to do if is absolutely fantastic the way the service is run as it is not the worst happens.” the teachers that deliver it, it is the students, and there is If you suffer a cardiac arrest out of hospital in the UK, no better way to learn than getting directly involved. I think you have less than a one in ten chance of surviving. the way the school goes about it is really something special The ‘Restart a Heart Day’ campaign aims to change and is certainly appreciated by everyone that attends.” that by training as many people as possible to be potential life savers.

Tel: 0151 652 1574 | Email: [email protected] | www.birkenheadparkschool.com Year 7 students have a fantastic experience at Colomendy After three fun-filled days, our Year 7 students returned to School full of stories to tell after an amazing residential at Colomendy in North Wales. Ninety students went on the trip and took part in a range of activities, aimed at building resilience, develop organisational skills and team-building. Head of Year 7, Mrs Kirwan, said: “It was worth all the planning and preparation to see all our Year 7s grow in Activities included a 3G swing, caving, archery, a nature confidence by attempting and conquering new challenges. trail and raft building. The students were extremely happy They achieved so much and should be so proud to have accomplished things that they never thought of themselves.” they would. Lily said: “It was absolutely amazing. The 3G swing was scary and so was the caving but I was so proud of myself for doing them.” Ola added: “It was amazing! I was crying on the top of the Leap of Faith but with everyone shouting up at me “you can do it” I jumped off and reached the swing. I was so proud. I would love to go again in Year 8.” Stan said: “I loved building the raft. It took my breath away when I jumped off the raft into the freezing cold water.” Ellie concluded: “I am really scared of heights but I did the 3G swing. It was all amazing and I would love to go again.” The trip took place from Wednesday 12th October to Friday 14th October and is an annual event for our Year 7 students. It is another way for teachers and staff to ease the transition process from primary school to secondary and is an invaluable way for our new students to get to know their peers and teachers even better. Summer School a great success Year 7 students took part in adventurous activities such as circus skills, zumba and climbing. The week long programme also featured birds of prey and reptile lessons, along with some class taster sessions in numeracy, literacy, PE, art, food technology and dance. A trip to Gulliver’s World rounded off the fantastic week and certainly had them all eager to start at their new school in September. Deputy Headteacher, Peter Mee, said: “Our Summer School provides an excellent opportunity for our new students to get to know members of staff and familiarise themselves with the School.”

The Birkenhead Park School, Park Road South, Birkenhead, Wirral CH43 4UY Visitors from local primary schools Visitors from Portland Primary School and Woodchurch Road Primary School had a taste in culture and history as they came to visit The Birkenhead Park School. Spanish teacher, Ms Pineau, helped pupils from Portland Primary School in a food-themed session, focusing on their Spanish speaking skills. The learning games encompassed a variety of words, including Primary pupils colours and verbs along with the numerous foods. All their hard work was then rewarded with a feast of traditional Spanish tapas for lunch, with chorizo, olives, solve murder tortilla and Spanish meatballs all on the menu. Pupils from Woodchurch Road Primary School took a step back in time during cookery sessions at The at Birkenhead Park School. To support all the hard work mystery they have been doing in school as part of their World War I project, they were set the task of cooking trench stew and shortbread. The children all had lots of fun Wirral School and produced some impressive meals to take back with them. One of the Year 6 children said: “My shortbread Over 150 pupils became forensic scientists smells delicious and I can’t wait to eat it.” for the morning to solve a murder mystery at The Birkenhead Park School. The CSI event involved the Year 6 children collating scientific evidence such as fingerprints, footprints, blood and fibres, and testing them to find out which suspect committed the crime. One child from Bidston Avenue Primary School said: “The staff made us very welcome and it was great to use the science equipment that we don’t have access to.” Six schools enjoyed the event, with pupils from Christ Church Primary, Cathcart Primary, Portland Primary, The Priory Primary and Bidston Avenue Primary all taking part, along with Hillside Primary. Head of Year 7, Mrs Kirwan, said: “The events have been a great success and are just another fun way for us to engage with younger pupils and ease the transition from primary school to secondary school.” At the end of the tasks, all the children came together to solve the crime in a short assembly and met Headteacher, Helen Johnson. Mrs Johnson said: “It is always wonderful to welcome so many primary school children into our school and it gives them a really good opportunity to meet staff and students and get used to the change in environment.”

Tel: 0151 652 1574 | Email: [email protected] | www.birkenheadparkschool.com Term Dates 2016/17 Term Closes: Thursday 22nd December (12.30pm) Summer Term 2017 Closed: Friday 23rd December (Staff training) Term Opens: Tuesday 18th April Christmas Holidays: Term Closes: Friday 26th May Monday 26th December - Friday 6th January Closed: Monday 1st May (Bank Holiday) Spring Term 2017 Half Term: Term Opens: Monday 9th January Monday 29th May - Friday 2nd June Term Closes: Friday 17th February Term Opens: Monday 5th June Half Term: Term Closes: Friday 21st July Monday 20th February - Friday 24th February Closed: Monday 24th & Tuesday 25th July (Staff training) Term Opens: Monday 27th February Term Closes: Friday 31st March Spring Break: Monday 3rd April - Monday 17th April

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